Apparatus for vulcanizing floor mats



Nov. 3, 1942. E. KRAMP EI'AL A 2,301,125

APPARATUS FOR VULCANIZING FLOOR MATS Filed 'Aug. 3, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 yv 3 m /0 Edward Km an I Kizr/B. K1750? APPARATUS FOR VULCANIZING FLOOR MATS Filed Aug. 3, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 3, 1942 2,301,125 APPARATUS FOR VULCANIZING FLOOR MATS Edward Kramp, Akron, and Karl B. Kilborn', Fairlawn, Ohio, assignors to Wingfoot Corporation, Wilmington, DeL, a corporation of Delaware Application August 3, 1940, Serial No. 350,564

11 Claims.

nature by this method it is essential to have a fluid tight seal around the edges of the material so that the vulcanizing medium will not find its way between the articles and the form over which it is positioned. The vulcanizer as illustrated in this invention is unique in its construction in that the entire curing chamber is formed in the lower part thereof. The lid is hingedly mounted to the lower part of the vulcanizer and when opening and closing swings through an are about the pivot point of the hinge. The under surface or bottom of the lid is simply a plane surface to which the edge sealing means for the sheet material is readily attached. The lid also forms a seal for the curing chamber by resting upon a feather-edged gasket which is fitted into a groove in the upper edges of the metal which forms the walls of the curing chamber.

One of the main objects of this invention is to provide a. box-like member with perforated walls that will form a perfect seal around the outer edges of a matwhich will prevent the vulcanizing medium such as steam or water, from finding its way between the article being vulcanized and the form upon which it is positioned.

Another object is to eliminate the use'of manually operated and complicated clamping mechanism by providing a device for sealing automatically, the outer edges of the articles that is to Y and the lower edges of the box-like sealing device rest upon the outer edges of the article being vulcanized where it seals the edges of the article by merely resting upon same of its own weight thus preventing the vulcanizing medium from finding its way between the article and the supbolts l2.

porting form. This form upon which the mat or other sheet articles are vulcanized ismade of metal and its upper face, upon which the article to be vulcanized is positioned, may be provided with any desired design. The form is usually of an irregular contour, and in order to prevent air or steam from seeping and becoming trapped beneath the sheet material, a marginal groove is provided on the upper face of the form, said groove communicating with vent holes which permit any such trapped fluid to escape to the atmosphere. 'It is obvious that if this trapped fluid is not allowed to escape a perfect imprint of the design will not be obtained.

The simplicity and advantage of this vulcanizing device will be more fully appreciated from the following description especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of vulcanizer embodying the invention and showing it in closed position:

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the vulcanizer opened, and with parts broken away and parts in section;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transversesectional view taken approximately on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view with parts broken away.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the vulcanizer consists of a frame ill upon which is mounted a vulcanizing base plate or bed plate ii and attached thereto by Rising from the edge portions of the base ll there are upwardly extending walls "-11 which define a vulcanizing chamber l3. A lid H serves to close the vulcanizing chamber l3 when desired. Extending rearwardly from the outer wall li-a of the vulcanizing chamber there are a plurality of lugs l5 terminating in rounded ends with horizontally alined bores, said lugs interfitting with similar lugs I1 and a central lug or arm I8 associated with the lid H. The lugs I1 and the arm it are formed with bores adapted for alinement with those in the lugs 15 to receive a hinge pin 20 through the medium of which the vulcanizer is opened and closed. Any suitable power means may be employed for actuating the lid, such means being illustrated as including a pressure cylinder 22 which is pivotally connected at 23 to the frame 10 and a piston rod 2|, the outer end of which is pivotally attached at 25 2! and 21 adjacent the front edges of the base plate II and lid ll are provided with bored holes 2! and 29 containing tumblers 30. These tumblers SI are pushed endwise across the intersecting lines of the lugs into locking position and re- 5 turned therefrom by the'action of air cylinders ll and 32. This locking device is shown and described in Patent No. 2,028,078 and is not herein claimed, and it is'to be understood that other forms of locking devices may be used instead.

The form upon which the sheet material is vulcanized comprises a casting 35 secured in the bottom of the vulcanizing chamber I! by the cap screws 38. It will be noted that the top or the form is shown with irregular contour, the for- 16 ward surface 31 being of greater elevation than the rearward surface a (see Fig. 2) and the surface 31 being provided with a central depression 3! (see Fig. 3). Of course, the invention may be used for curing flat mats as well as con- 20 toured mats, and in either case, the upper surface of the vulcanizing form may be engraved or otherwise provided with a preferred design.

when a sheet 4| of rubber or similar material is placed over the form 35 forvulcanizlng, it is necessary to seal the outer edges of the sheet material Iii against the outer edges of the form, thus to prevent the vulcanizing fluid from ilnding its way between the sheet of material and the upper surface of the form. If this is not done, a perfect imprint of the design is not obtained and the material will have to be scrapped causing a substantial economic loss. In order to overcome this hazard, a very simple form of sealing means ll is provided, it being carried by 3 6 the lid II. The device is of box-like construction and consists of a polygonal metal plate 42 of substantially the same outline as the form 35, having around its outer edge and at right angle thereto downwardly extending metal plates or sealing elements I! which are attached through the aid of angle bars 44 and bolts 45 and 46. These sealing elements may be formed of sheet metal provided with openings 41, expanded metal or wire mesh, but it has been found that sheet on material serves the purpose well. The openings 41 in the plates 43 are essential to allow the vulcanizing fluid to penetrate freely over the surface of the sheet material which for the greater part lies surrounded by the clamping device ll. 60

The lower or free edges of the plates or sealin elements ll are rounded and are formed to lit the contour of the form and rest upon the edges of the sheet material 40 when the lid of the vulcafiizer is closed as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. It 55 will be noted that the box-like sealing device ll merely rests on the sheet material 40 of its own weight instead of being pressed down by the lid,

this being accomplished by the mode of attachment to the lower surface of the lid II. For this 60 device 4| to rest of its own weight with the lower 70 edges of the plates 43 in contact with the edges of the sheet material ll! providing a positive and effective seal. By thus mounting the sealing device II in slidable relation with the lid ll, there will be no danger of the plates 4: cutting too When the lid is closed there 65 deeply into the sheet material at any one point because it will not at any time be under force other than gravity.

In order to prevent trapped air or steam from remaining between the upper surface of the form 35 and the sheet material 40 during vulcanization, the form is provided with a V-shaped groove 53 which extends completely around the outer edge closely adjacent the inner wall of the clamping device, and vent holes Bl connect this groove with a chamber SI which also extends around the edges of the form as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This vent groove II has nothing to do with the design of the flnished product. Additional venting means is provided by a second groove which is parallel to groove 53 and inwardly thereof which does form a part of the design as a head or dividing line between the central design and the outer edge of the finished product. This groove 61 is also connected to the venting chamber 55 by holes 51. To complete the venting of the under side of the sheet material to the atmosphere a flexible tube 58, which is capable of being adjusted to fit diiferent sizes of forms is connected to the venting chamber I55 and extends to the vulcanizing chamber wall and through an opening therein which communicates with a pipe 58 which discharges the vented fluid to the atmosphere. groove 53 also serves to prevent air or vapor in the form of condensed steam from being trapped in the depressions of the design in the form. When the vulcanizing fluid is admitted under pressure to the vulcanizing chamber, it takes approximately thirty seconds for the pressure to build up to maximum and during this time 7 any trapped fluid beneath the sheet material will be forced into the groove 53 and allowed to escape and at the same time the vulcanizable material will be pressed tightly over the groove and form an additional seal to prevent additional fluid from accidentally finding its way underneath the material.

The curing chamber I3 is provided with an inlet 60 for admitting fluid under pressure as a vulcanizing medium and an outlet 6|, and is secured against-leaks around the dividing line of the chamber l3 and lid by a rubber gasket 64.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that this invention provides a simplified apparatus for vulcanizing sheet material and one in which the sealing means is operated automatically by the opening and closing of the lid of the vulcanizer and one which requires no springs or other means to force it into contact with the material being vulcanized. In operation the attendant spreads a sheet of vulcanizable material 10 over the form 35 while the vulcanizer is open as shown in Fig. 2 andit will be noted that the sealing means 4| being slidably suspended from the under side of the lid I4 is raised out of the way by the upward movement of said lid. When the sheet of material is properly positioned over the form the operator opens a valve to admit pressure fluid to the lower end of cylinder 22, whereupon the vulcanizer lid closes lowering the edge sealing means and positioning'the sealing plates 43 upon the edges of the sheet material 40 where they rest of their own weight to form the seal. Then the lid i4 is locked in closed position and steam, hot air, or other curing medium under pressure is admitted to the interior of the vulcanizing chamber through the inlet 60. The curing medium then exerts its pressure and transfats heat to the mat 40 or other sheet material At the start of the operation, thethe mat, said eng s ns surface ultimately becom ing the upper surface of the mat in use. After the cure has continued for a predetermined time, the supply of vulcanizing fluid is discontinued,

the lid unlocked and raised, and the cured mat removed, leaving the apparatus ready for repetition of the operation. These various control steps may be effected manually if desired, but in large production they will preferably be effected by automatic cycle control mechanism which is not shown in the drawings but well known to those skilled in the art.

Although we have shown and described only one form of the invention by way of illustration, it will be understood that various modifications and changes may. be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for vulcanizing sheet material comprising a vulcanizing chamber having a single cavity and a lid, a form mounted in the bottom of said chamber upon which the sheet material is vulcanized to a predetermined form, means to seal the outer edges of the sheet material against the outer edges of the form, said sealing means being slidably suspended from the bottom of the lid and moved toward and away from the sheet material by the action of the lid while opening and closing the vulcanizing chamber, and means for venting the under side of the sheet material through a venting chamber in the form to the atmosphere.

2. An apparatus for vulcanizing sheet material comprising a vulcanizing chamber and a lid hingedly attached thereto, a form mounted in the bottom of the vulcanizing chamber upon which sheet material is vulcanized to a shape corresponding to the contour oi. the form, means for admitting fluid under pressure to the.vul-' canizing chamber in direct contact with the sheet material, means for sealing the outer edges of the sheet material against the corresponding edges of the form, said sealing means being slidably attached to the bottom of the lid and moved into and out of contact with the sheet material by the movement of the lid while opening and closing the vulcanizer, and means for venting the meeting surfaces of the sheet material and the form to the atmosphere.

3. A vulcanizer for vulcanizing sheet material comprising a vulcanizing chamber and a lid hingedly attached thereto, a form attached to the bottom of said chamber upon which the sheet material is vulcanized, means for admitting fluid under pressure to the vulcanizing chamber in direct contact with the sheet material, means for automatically sealing the outer edges of the sheet material against the corresponding edges -of the form. said sealing means being slidably suspended from the bottom of the lid and adapted for movement toward and away from the sheet material by the opening and closing of the lid.

and means for venting the under side of said sheet material to the atmosphere to allow trapped fluid to escape.

4. An apparatus for vulcanizing sheet material comprising a vulcanizing chamber and a lid material, means for automatically sealing the outer edges of the sheet material against the corresponding edges of the form, said sealing means being slidably suspended from the bottom of the lid and moved toward and awayfrom the sheet material by the opening and closing of the lid and when in sealing position resting of its own weight on the edges of the sheet material, and a venting means to prevent trapped fluid from remaining beneath the surface of the sheet material.

5. An. apparatus for vulcanizing sheetmaterial to an irregular contour comprising a vulcanizing chamberand a lid in hinged relation thereto, a form of irregular contour attached to the bottom of said chamber over which a sheet of material is to be vulcanized, means for admitting fluid under pressure to thechamber and in direct contact to the upper exposed surface of the sheet material, an edge sealing means suspended from the bottom of the lid and automatically positioned by the closing action of the lid, and means for allowing trapped fluid to escape from beneath the sheet material to the atmosphere.

6. An apparatus for vulcanizing sheet material to an irregular contour comprising a vulcanizing chamber, a lid for said chamber the bottom of which has a plane surface, a form attached to the bottom of said vulcanizing chamber and over which the sheet material is positioned, an edge sealing means slidably suspended from the bottom of the lid, said sealing means being automatically moved into and out of contact with the outer edges of the sheet material by the action of thelid, and venting means to connect the underside of the sheet material at various points to the atmosphere.

'7. An apparatus for vulcanizing contoured floor mats and the like comprising a vulcanizing chamber, a lid for said chamber the bottom of which has a plane surface, a form attached to the bottom of said chamber and over which the floor mat is positioned for vulcanization, an edge sealing means slidably suspended from the bottom of said lid said sealing means being automatically movable into and out of operative position by the action of the lid and resting by gravity while in sealing position, and venting means to allow trapped fluid to escape from be neath the sheet material to the atmosphere.

8. An apparatus for vulcanizing rubber floor mats over a form of irregular contour, comprising a single cavity vulcanizing chamber, a lid for covering said chamber, a form provided with vent holes attached to the bottom of the vulcanizing chamber over which the floor mats are positioned, means for connecting said vent holes to the atmosphere, and an edge-sealing means slidably suspended from the bottom of the lid and automatically positioned by closing said lid so that it provides a seal by resting of its own weight closely adjacent the edges of the sheet material.

9. In a vulcanizing apparatus for vulcanizing sheet material such as mats the combination of a vulcanizer lid movable to opened and closed 4 a,so1,1ss

- thereto and when in sealing position resting or its own weight on the sheet material, and means to connect the vent holes in the form to the atmosphere.

11. In a vulcanizing apparatus of the class described, a single cavity pressure chamber, a

lid hingedly attached thereto, a form of irregular contour attached to the bottom of said chamber adapted to mold a sheet of vulcanizable material, a venting means for said ionn comprised of a marginal groove and a venting chamber, openings connecting said groove with said chamber, and means to connect said chamber to the atmosphere, and a marginal sealing means suspended trom the bottom of the lid said sealing means-being automatically positioned by the closing of the lid upon the marginal edge or the sheet material and resting or its own weight thereon.

EDWARD KRAMP.

KARL B. KILBORN. 

